Danville High School has selected its new head football coach, Steve Stonebraker. He currently ranks as the 18th winningest active football coach in Kentucky and is the only coach in the top 20 active coaches to coach entirely at schools with historical losing records, showing that he has a history of turning teams’ losses into wins.

While he won't officially start as football coach until January, Stonebraker has plans to meet with current players the first week of December, and a public meet and greet is planned for the following week. 

He comes to DHS from Adair County High School, where he was head football coach. 

“I am pumped up about working with our players and helping them to reach their potential,” he said. “There are some young men there that have fought through adversity and continue to work hard. We also have some impressive young men coming up that I know are looking to add to the legacy of Danville football.”

His goal is to restore the football program to its historic heights. 

“There is a rich tradition of football success at Danville High School, and I am looking forward to being a part of restoring that for our players, our school and the community and alumni that support it,” he said. “I cannot wait to connect and, in some cases, reconnect with those who have helped to shape Admiral football over the years. In addition, I am looking forward to meeting all of our players and families from the youth league, to Bate Middle to the High School.” 

Stonebraker has been a wide receivers coach at Centre College, as well as a head coach at Casey County High School, Jeffersontown High School, Woodford County High School and Garrard County High School. He got his start as a head coach in 1999-2000 at Casey County High School and returned there from 2016-2022. 

Something that stands out about his coaching style is that teams he led broke pertinent school rushing and scoring records using different offense methods. He runs plays necessary for the team depending on the unique talents the individual team and players bring to the table. 

“As I will relay to our players, I have turned around programs that have been stuck in tough circumstances many times,” he said. “I can promise all fans of Danville football that I will work tirelessly to bring pride and Friday night fun back to all. I am truly Danville-devoted and am already getting to work.”

In Stonebraker’s most recent role as head coach for Adair County High School, the 2024 team was the first team in the 51-year history of the program to finish the regular season ranked in the AP top 10. 

When he was head coach at Casey County High School, he led the program to its first-ever district championship in 2022, first-ever region championship game in 2016 and had the first consecutive winning seasons in school history from 2016-2018. He’s the only coach in the history of Casey County football to have a historical winning record and is the winningest coach in the program’s history for total wins and winning percentage. 

In his time as head coach at the schools he has served, his teams and players have broken school records, he’s developed players who went on to play football at the collegiate level, and he has had many other accomplishments over the years.

Involved in the selection of Stonebraker as head coach are DHS Principal Danny Goodwin, DHS Athletic Director Mike Pittman and Superintendent Ron Ballard. 

Goodwin said Stonebraker was at the top of the list of coaches DHS was interested in.

“He's got a proven track record of success with a number of teams, and we're excited for the successes that he'll build with Admiral football,” Goodwin said.

Stonebraker said, “I want to personally thank Mr. Ballard, Mr. Goodwin and Coach Pittman for their belief in me. I believe we have a shared vision and a commitment from all parties to move Danville football back where it belongs.”